STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Housing & Homelessness Solutions
AGENDA DATE: September 27, 2023
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 8 All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Homeless Solutions
EXECUTIVE: Kimberly Bizor Tolbert
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
title
Authorize (1) the City Manager to execute an interlocal agreement to accept funds in an overall amount not to exceed $10,000,000.00 from Dallas County, Texas for supportive housing and/or supportive services projects for eligible American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) beneficiaries with no more than one project to be located within the current geographical boundary of each Dallas County Commissioner’s District; (2) the City Manager to execute subrecipient agreements for each approved project upon identification and approval of each project by the Dallas City Council and Dallas County Commissioner’s Court, respectively; and (3) an amendment to Resolution No. 22-1011 to modify the approved interlocal agreement terms, conditions, and obligations - Not to exceed $10,000,000.00 - Financing: FY22 Dallas County ARPA Fund
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BACKGROUND
In 2019 the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was declared a public health emergency in the United States in January 2020. In responding to the public health emergency and its negative economic impacts, State, local, and Tribal governments experienced substantial increases in costs to provide services, often amid substantial declines in revenue due to the economic downturn and changing economic patterns during the pandemic.
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law H.R. 1319, a $1.9 trillion supplemental appropriations bill commonly referred to as the ARPA, which funds are intended to provide additional federal resources for economic stimulus and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the $362 billion in federal fiscal recovery aid allocated to state and local governments, $65.1 billion was provided under ARPA direct aid to counties. On June 1, 2021, the Dallas County Commissioners Court accepted $511,918,088.00 and authorized the use of such federal funds received through ARPA and the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund via court order 2021-0573.
The final guidance (ARPA Final Rule) issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), effective April 1, 2022, affirms the objectives stated in the Interim Final Rule that the allocation of ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA SLFR Funds) include improving access to stable, affordable housing through interventions that improve housing security. The ARPA Final Rule provides that the following are eligible costs: responses to the negative economic impacts of the pandemic include "rent, mortgage, or utility assistance and counseling and legal aid to prevent homelessness.” 31 CFR §4360. This includes housing stability services that enable eligible households to maintain or obtain housing, such as housing counseling, fair housing counseling, case management related to housing stability, outreach to households at risk of eviction or promotion of housing support programs, housing related services for survivors of domestic abuse or human trafficking, and specialized services for individuals with disabilities, vulnerabilities and seniors that support their ability to access or maintain housing.
The City has a long-standing commitment to protect the health and safety of the homeless and housing insecure throughout the City through the provision of medical services, supportive services, job training, temporary and permanent housing and other emergent services. The County intends to utilize a portion of its allocation to fund regional projects and programs that assist disadvantaged and underserved communities through housing support and infrastructure improvements. The City and the County desire to continue collaborating to address the needs of the homeless and housing insecure to expand access to supportive services, and provide additional emergency, transitional or affordable housing throughout the City and County. As authorized by Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code, the Interlocal Cooperation Act (the Act), the City and the County seek to enter into a regional partnership to leverage ARPA SLFR Funds and its respective resources to jointly operate facilities in the City to improve housing security and support durable and sustainable homeownership.
On June 22, 2022, the City authorized the acceptance of $10,000,000.00 from Dallas County to provide for the creation and maintenance of supportive housing, improving housing security, and providing supportive services to the homeless. During negotiations with the County regarding the eligible projects under the interlocal agreement, the County has conditioned its reimbursement of the City’s costs from the ARPA SLFR Funds as follows: (i) total reimbursement is an amount not to exceed $2,500,000.00 per project; and (ii) no more than one project to be located within the current geographical boundary of each Dallas County Commissioner’s District. City staff recommends approval of this item to allow the City to accept an allocation of ARPA SLFR Funds to serve the region’s need for supportive housing and services for those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On May 12, 2022, the Citizen Homelessness Commission was briefed on this proposed regional partnership between the City and the County by the Office of Homeless Solutions.
The Homeless and Housing Solutions Committee was briefed on this proposed regional partnership between the City and the County by the Office of Homeless Solutions on May 23, 2022.
On June 2, 2022, the Dallas Area Partnership was briefed on this proposed regional partnership between the City and the County by the Office of Homeless Solutions.
On June 22, 2022, the City Council authorized the acceptance of 10 million ($10,000,000.00) from Dallas County to provide the creation and maintenance of supportive housing, improving housing security, and providing supportive services to the homeless and housing insecure for youth (18-24), including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual/agender (“LGBTQIA+”) youth and the larger unsheltered and/or unstably housed population at or below 30% Area Median Income (collectively, the “Target Populations”), within the City of Dallas and Dallas County (the “public purpose”) by Resolution No. 22-1011.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
Future Years |
|
FY22 Dallas County ARPA Fund |
$10,000,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |